During WW1 the German U-boats sank 11 million tons of shipping and warships and in WW2 they sank 18 million tons- more than all the other world navies combined!!! The Type XXIII coastal electroboat made the last kills on the last day of WW2 on May 7, 1945 sinking the Sneland and Avondale Park. Of 62 operational in 1945 for the last 3 mos, 18 were retained in Norway and the other 44 in N German ports. 3 were lost to British aircraft and 4 in training accidents, leaving 37. Four went out on patrols and sunk 5 ships totalling 15,000 tons. 100s more were under construction and were being stealth masked with Opanol and Tarnmatte.